OLDS, Alta. — Cayley Peltzer saved her sheep for Summer Synergy. The 14-year-old winner of the Supreme sheep contest at the Calgary Stampede’s junior livestock show had the biggest win of her 4-H career. A lively redhead who also shows cattle and horses, Peltzer devoted most of her energy to her ewe with a set […] Read more
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Show highlights youth’s achievements
Winter wheat changes to aid marketing
Changes are just around the corner for winter wheat producers in Western Canada. A new grade – No. 3 CWRW – will soon be added to the Canadian Western Red Winter (CWRW) wheat class. Samples with protein below 11 percent will automatically be graded No. 3, although the wheat could still be used for milling […] Read more
Bankruptcy act called unfair
Divorced Manitobans can lose their share of the family home quarter if they aren’t careful. Provincial family property law allows a spouse with property to declare bankruptcy and yet still keep the family farmstead. However, if they owe their divorced spouse part of that quarter, the debt will likely disappear in the bankruptcy unless the […] Read more
Two projects target Simmental gene research
The Canadian Simmental Association has received a $1.7 million federal grant for genetic research and improvement. The three year project involves analyzing DNA for fertility, feed efficiency and carcass quality in Simmental breeding stock and crossbreds. The Simmental association requires members to provide DNA samples from their registered bulls, so much of the material is […] Read more
Opportunity knocks for pulse growers’ Garth Patterson
The pulse industry has lost one of its biggest champions. Garth Patterson is stepping down as executive director of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers to assume the same role with the Western Grains Research Foundation. “It will be a very difficult task to replace Garth,” said SPG chair Lee Moats. “Not only has he built strong relationships […] Read more
Producers told to do homework to avoid unnecessary irrigation
OUTLOOK, Sask. — There are things producers can do to reduce guesswork in irrigation scheduling, says an agrologist with the Saskatchewan agriculture ministry. The first thing to do before turning on the taps is to check the soil’s moisture level, provincial irrigation agrologist Rory Cranston said during a field day at the Canada-Saskatchewan Irrigation Diversification […] Read more
Timing an advantage of winter wheat
LACOMBE, Alta. — Growing winter wheat in central Alberta has its challenges, but it’s a great crop when the agricultural stars align, says producer Craig Shaw. Shaw started growing winter wheat in 1997 and believes there are plenty of reasons to include it in the rotation. “There are bigger bonuses that don’t relate to yield […] Read more
Prairie hail claims low despite severe storms
Prairie farmers have filed fewer hail claims than normal despite a wet and stormy growing season so far. As of July 20, members of the Canadian Crop Hail Association reported 2,650 claims in Saskatchewan, 930 in Alberta and 500 in Manitoba. David Van Deynze of Manitoba Agricultural Services Corp. said the low numbers are a […] Read more
EU, Canada shake hands on organic standards, laws
A new equivalency agreement with the European Union means Canadian growers now have unfettered access to the world’s two largest organic markets. After nearly four years of negotiations, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development have agreed to recognize each other’s organic standards and laws. The deal […] Read more
B.C. veggie growers qualify for assistance
Vegetable growers in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley have received federal assistance because severe rain last fall made more than half their crop unharvestable. The cost-shared AgriRecovery program is aimed at helping farmers who had less crop to sell last year and higher-than-normal costs in planting this year’s crop. Costs included preparing gullied and eroded land […] Read more
